The Portland Sea Dogs finally contained Tim Tebow and rallied for a 5-3 win over the Binghamton Rumble Ponies on Monday night at Hadlock Field.

Both Jantzen Witte and Josh Ockimey recorded two hits, with a triple and two RBI – Ockimey’s triple bouncing off Tebow’s head.

But Tebow was beating Portland early with his bat. Through four innings Binghamton led 2-0 on two Tebow RBI singles.

Tebow is the former NFL quarterback trying to make a go in pro baseball. After going 3 for 4, he’s batting .266 (.329 since June 1). After Tebow plays in the Eastern League All-Star Game next week, the speculation is he’ll be promoted to Triple-A. He turns 31 next month.

Sea Dogs starter Matt Kent will make one more start before joining Tebow in the All-Star Game. He was solid Monday, allowing two earned runs over 61/3 innings.

Kent gave up the two RBI singles but also struck out Tebow in the sixth on a sidearm slider, one of his five strikeouts.

“Throughout the season you can see (Tebow’s) progression as a hitter,” Kent said. “He’s definitely trying to hit middle or opposite field. He made his adjustments and I made mine to get him out in the third at-bat.”

Tebow, per Binghamton’s rules regarding its star player, does not offer interviews after games.

Travis Lakins (1-2) got the win with 12/3 scoreless innings, his longest outing since becoming a reliever May 31. His ERA out of the bullpen remains 0.00. Josh Taylor earned his fourth save, allowing an unearned run in the ninth.

With the Sea Dogs trailing 2-0, Witte led off the sixth with a walk. Ockimey followed with a high fly to left. Tebow backed against the wall and reached up. The ball hit the wall above his glove and came down atop his head, rolling away far enough to allow Ockimey to reach third for an RBI triple. Luke Tendler singled in Ockimey to tie the game.

Kent exited with one out and two runners on in the seventh. Lakins escaped the jam and Kent looked back in form after a stinker last week (10 earned runs in four innings).

“I had a lot better command of the fastball,” Kent said. “When I hone that in, it sets up all the over pitches.”

Portland pounced on Ponies reliever David Roseboom (1-1) in the seventh. After Danny Mars and Chad De La Guerra singled, Witte scored them with a triple to right-center. Ockimey singled him in for a 5-2 lead.

NOTES: Third baseman Michael Chavis was activated. Chavis, who served a 50-game suspension after being tested positive for steroids, was transferred from the Sea Dogs to short-season Lowell. Chavis played third base Monday and went 0 for 3 with a walk. … At Triple-A Pawtucket, rehabbing Red Sox starter Drew Pomeranz gave up four home runs in 22/3 innings … Tuesday’s 6 p.m. game is the last home game before the All-Star break. There will be fireworks after the game.

Kevin Thomas can be reached at 791-7411 or:

kthomas@pressherald.com

Twitter: @ClearTheBases

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